Sasano Kannon Jushichido Festival

About this event

A festival held annually on January 17th within the grounds of Sasano Kannon. Following the Saitogoma fire ritual prayer (from 14:00) by Yamabushi mountain ascetics, a fire-walking ceremony (Hiwatari) is held to pray for sound health and protection from illness. Stalls and flower huts (Hanagoya) selling Sasano Ittobori wood carvings, Sasano flowers, and more line the temple grounds. The flower huts start around 8:30, but closing times vary in descriptions: around 17:30 according to the prefectural tourist guide, and around 19:00 according to the temple's general guide. The temple guide also mentions a rice cake scatter (mochimaki) around 18:00, but the exact timing requires confirmation with the organizers. Prayers require registration up to 30 minutes in advance and a prayer fee of 5,000 yen. Participation in the fire-walking ceremony requires purchasing a talisman (Ofuda) for 500 yen, but children in 3rd grade of elementary school and below cannot participate. The severe ascetic practice of fire-walking to pray for good health is carried out, and a distinctive feature is that visitors who wish to participate are also able to walk on the fire. In the grounds, daikon radish soup and amazake (sweet fermented rice drink) are served, and stalls line up in front of the Kannon Hall, bustling all day with people seeking good-luck items such as Otaka Poppo of Yonezawa's traditional Sasano Ittobori woodcraft, Sasano flowers, Ebisu and Daikoku figures, and the twelve zodiac animals.

Venue

Kotoku-in Sasano-dera Temple (Sasano Kannon)

5686-5 Sasano Honcho, Yonezawa, Yamagata 992-1445